Each installation presents its own challenges... or not. Best to get a couple or three estimates from NG licensed plumbers for the gas work and licensed electricians for the transfer connections. Pull permits and do it legal.

Virgil, thanks for pointing out some nicely designed plans! I was intrigued by the new tideland, although it's a little dark for our climate (and only 2 beds) . Those big porches make more sense south of 45°. I really like the Allison Ramsay designs as well. They're designed a bit luxuriously compared to what I was thinking (large master ensuites) but that might not be a bad thing for the in laws. Thanks LL! Off to peruse those. Pal... Something able out that super steep churchy roof pitch makes my heart go pitter patter. Looks like the roof space between the three volumes could be problematic in snow... But I don't know much about ice dams. We just came off an epic winter that had roofs failing (and collapsing!) all over the place.

And please post when you do get the plans so we can see. We're all house junkies on this forum. (For example, one of my favorite things to do is go on Sunday's to look at open houses and I bet I'm not the only one!) I can't speak for how to interview or questions to ask, but can suggest some things once you've narrowed it down to the "one". Start putting together pictures of homes you like, rooms you like, etc. The more research you do like that, and you'll start to see patterns in what you like. Put a list together of MUST HAVES for your home. Put together a second list of wish to haves and a third list of I'm dreaming but wouldn't it be nice because you never know when a good architect or designer can add in your dream wishes too. If you must have certain rooms near one another, spell that out roughly. As I said, I wanted the view from my great room/master/dining room/DH's study to be my pool and back yard and I wanted my rooms to create a backyard courtyard feel. I also wanted my laundry near my bedroom but didn't need a laundry room. Have your budget in mind. Know your priorities. It's obvious that you're not looking for a large house. Do you want to be able to have more details like crown moldings, wainscoting, etc? One thing though is DO put that garage in now. The cost really is minimal. :) Best of luck. Keep an open mind and don't rush the process. I started in March and thought I'd have it worked out by the summer. HAH! Getting it right on paper is a lot cheaper than having to make changes once you start building.

We have done our house in phases. We did the guts first with the future addition needs included. For example our HE gas boiler/ hot water system was over sized for a few years to accommodate our master addition. We added lots of empty breakers when we upgraded our electrics to support a kitchen update in the near future. we finished the basement first for it gave our growing family more square footage. We DIY this for less than 5k but it assesses at over 20 k in added value, but we spent 20 k worth of free time making it... We added a gunite pool. What I call my English husband's American Dream. This is a superadequacy worth less than 20 k costing ten years ago over 60 k with landscape and fencing. We did the bath addition next because we did not already have that feature but do have a nice enough kitchen so the bath actually added more value to our home to do. Although I believe the assessment was over valued the addition of a master bath actually, on paper, added more value to our house than we spent. This was zero DIY and cost over $650 per sq ft. I trust this will not be the case if we actually sold. We hope to add a kitchen addition soon. I do not think we saved money so to speak, it would have been cheaper I believe to have done everything at once, or yes to have moved but we do not like loans so preferred to spend more on labor costs but less on interest charges. We chose not to move because our location trumped the cost savings moving would have provided.